There seems to be a gap of information in the Nigerian film space, with multiple news publications describing When Love Strikes as Nigeria’s first football movie. While the scale of production might make it tempting to call it a ‘first’, it is a sin no one should be guilty of because this would mean that Uche Jombo’s self-directed Onye Egwu was never released earlier this year on Prime Video; in fact when Zubby Michael pops up on the screen in the opening scene, I half expected that we were being treated to a sequel as he reprises a similar role. It would also mean that films like Yemi Morafa’s Funke! and Tunde Kelani’s Maami do not exist.
When Love Strikes comes across as a revision of Onye Egwu. Both films possess similar premises, complications, and characters. There is Ibukun Saka, played by a convincing Natse Jemide, a talented youngster looking to further his football career by making it to Europe. He faces an obstacle in his mum (Bimbo Akintola), who wants him to take a better bet by trying for a scholarship to school in Cyprus, while a retired footballer (Zubby Michael) is on the lookout for the next Nigerian football star.
However, the Adeoluwa Owu-directed effort distinguishes itself by adding more layers to its plot, depicting themes like a coming-of-age story, family drama, and a bit of romance. Also, with more subplots than a Tyler Perry film, When Love Strikes presents an Inkblot signature style of multiple narratives that are not properly synchronised to form a rounded whole and never really focus on anything. We end up with an eclectic depiction of story details that belie the title and have little impact on the direction of the plot.
The film is titled When Love Strikes, but in the details of the plot and action, romance clearly takes a back seat compared to other themes explored in the dramatic action. More poignant in the film is the dysfunction in the Saka family. Ibukun wants to win the Youth Challenge Cup and further his career to honour his supposed father’s memory, while his mother would rather he focus on his education, but it turns out the people he has always known as his parents are not really his parents. His life is turned upside down just before he has to take a life-defining decision, as his motivations and intentions are strongly challenged. While he does fall in love with Ngozi (Shine Rosman), Nnamdi’s daughter, it is a tangential detail to the story and is definitely not the love that strikes. A more poignant romantic relationship to explore would be the relationship between his sister Tinuke (Osas Ighodaro) and her childhood lover Tjay (Ademola Adedoyin), maybe then love would have struck.
The under-exploration of the several competing subplots, character relationships, and neglect of subtextual details in the action takes away the edge from the story and sometimes makes the characters’ actions look out of sync. Instead of evoking strong emotions, important scenes arrive anticlimactic and miss their mark due to subpar handling. As a result, the dramatic action does not build up convincingly to the climax of the film.
Another aspect in which When Love Strikes distinguishes itself from its close cousin, Onye Egwu, is the production quality. While the actions on the pitch definitely look rehearsed, the cinematography is leagues above, delivering well-timed shots from angles that give the action a semblance of spontaneity, thereby enhancing its dramatic essence. While When Love Strikes is not the first Nigerian football-themed film and might not have done enough to become a cult classic, it is a more enjoyable watch than most of the recently produced Nollywood sport-themed movies, boating more substance and better attention to production quality.
When Loves Strikes premiered at the Cinemas on September 13.
Share your thoughts in the comments section or on our social media accounts.
Keep track of upcoming films and TV shows on your Google calendar.
Side Musings
- How did she play in so much mud and come out without having as much as a stain?
- Nice Saka PR.
- The commentators (played by real life Jimmie Akinsola and Suo Chapele) bring their A game and are able to inject life into every scene they are in.
- Nice montages.
- His love for football definitely struck
1 Comment
The poster is taking me out.